Chapter 7

Holes

Trailblazers · 4th–6th

Copywork

Stanley waited for him to drive away, then took another look at his hole. He knew it was nothing to be proud of, but he felt proud nonetheless.

Read the passage aloud. What does the word nonetheless do to the second sentence?

Discussion

Narration Tell back Stanley's first morning of digging, from the shovel bouncing off the ground to the last look at his hole, and tell Elya's story in order too.

1. The chapter cuts between Stanley's hole and Elya's story, then back again. Why might the author build the chapter that way?Plot structure

2. Zero finishes first, spits into his perfect hole and walks away without a smile. What do you make of that?Character

3. Stanley thinks about quitting, then keeps digging. Is that courage, or does he simply have no other choice?Moral reasoning

4. Madame Zeroni says the pig will get bigger but Elya will get stronger. Why might she help him in this way?Inference

5. Mr. Pendanski says “Well done,” then drives off without filling Stanley’s canteen. How does “Well done” sound to you?Tone

Make a Connection Tell about a time you finished something hard and felt proud even though it was not perfect.

Vocabulary

Crossword

1	2



3		4	5
6				7
			8


		9

Across

Across 1. In spite of that; even so.
Across 6. Unwillingly; not wanting to.
Across 8. Sad and lonely.
Across 9. Dug out.

Down

Down 2. Wishing to have what someone else has.
Down 3. Made a twisted face from pain or effort.
Down 4. To move slowly and waste time.
Down 5. Not working the way it should.
Down 7. Feeling pleased about something you did.

The words in the chapter

nonetheless but he felt proud nonetheless
proud He knew it was nothing to be proud of
defective He wondered if he had a defective shovel.
enviously “You’re finished?” Stanley asked enviously.
reluctantly Reluctantly, he climbed up out of his hole

dawdle He couldn’t afford to dawdle.
grimaced He grimaced as he sliced off a chunk of dirt
excavated It expanded when it was excavated.
forlorn Madame Zeroni hated to see Elya so forlorn.

Critical thinking

1. Mr. Pendanski says Stanley is digging “to build character.” Using two pieces of evidence, explain whether the digging has built anything in him by the end of this chapter.

2. Stanley piles his dirt too close to his hole and has to move it later. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what that mistake shows about how he works.

3. Elya skips the last climb up the mountain and later forgets his promise to Madame Zeroni. Using two pieces of evidence, explain which was the bigger mistake.